At Ithaca Children’s Garden, we believe every child deserves the chance to explore, play, and grow — regardless of their family’s financial situation. That’s why our annual Scholarship Fund Campaign has an ambitious goal of raising $54,000 by the end of April to provide scholarships for over 100 local families. These scholarships ensure that cost is never a barrier to children experiencing the joy of nature, hands-on learning, and unstructured play.

This month, we spoke with parents whose children have benefited from ICG scholarships. Their stories are a powerful reminder of what’s possible when every child has the opportunity to grow in nature.

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One of those families is Stephanie’s. She shared how the ICG scholarship made it possible for their daughter to attend the full Preschool Nature Explorers (PNE) program, a four-day-a-week immersive outdoor experience. “We really wanted our daughter to play in the dirt,” she told us. “We wanted her to feel comfortable getting dirty, knowing there is so much life and wonder in the garden.” Thanks to the scholarship, her daughter didn’t just spend time outside — she flourished there.

Without the scholarship, Stephanie explained, she would have had to limit her child’s participation to just two or three days a week, making it harder to find equally enriching experiences on the other days. “The coordinators have the pedagogical experience to know what stimulates children’s learning and nurtures curiosity. That has been invaluable.”

“During her time with the PNE program, her language skills blossomed. She has gained the confidence to communicate her boundaries to children and adults alike, which is so important for children to learn. She has learned how to play with other children and how to negotiate different personalities and — with consistent support from the PNE coordinators — learned to temper her responses to dissatisfaction.”

Through ICG’s PNE program, her daughter learned to navigate the natural world and social interactions alike. She developed confidence in communicating her boundaries, navigating friendships, and expressing her needs. “She has gained the confidence to communicate her boundaries to children and adults alike, which is so important for children to learn.” And, of course, she has learned the simple, joyful magic of getting muddy. “The moment that stands out for us is the first time we picked her up, and she was just covered in dirt and mud from jumping in puddles. She was so content being in the garden.”

The benefits of ICG’s programming extend far beyond the garden gates. Stephanie noted that her daughter’s time in PNE has strengthened her independence, social skills, and communication in all aspects of life. “The curriculum centers the children, and my daughter has definitely benefited from letting her imagination do the work it needs to do.”

Stories like Stephanie’s affirm why scholarships are so vital to ICG’s mission. Every child deserves the chance to climb logs, stomp in puddles, and discover the wonders of the natural world. But we can’t do it alone. Right now, your gift can make an even greater impact. If you donate by April 30, your contribution will be doubled thanks to a matching challenge up to $27,000. We need every penny to meet the community need. Your support directly funds Tompkins County families.

Join us in making sure every child has the chance to play, learn, and get a little muddy:

Give to Scholarship Fund